The Mug

The Mug is the type of bar that if you didn’t know it was there you would drive right passed it. Its tucked into the corner of a strip mall off Pilot Knob. Not much signage on the road to direct you either. There are only three beers on tap which these days is almost unheard of. Didn’t see a beer list but I’m guessing its pretty minimal. Happy Hour runs from 1−6pm and 9pm-​1am which is pretty sweet! The bartender was pretty friendly and even snuck me a Happy Hour drink at 12:55 (shhhh) Seems like a good spot to come grab some bar food and a drink if you’re local.

Just an uncomfortable place. Staff is unwelcoming, food is disgusting and it’s very bare-​bones. Look elsewhere.

This place is a joke. First time out to this place and didn’t stick around what an embarrassment. This guy comes over asks what we want to drink I ask for a drink menu he says in a very condescending tone and gesture they don’t have one. I almost went off but instead I ask what kind of cider they carry he of course doesn’t know. What kind of bar doesn’t have a drink menu? Any way he goes back after a full 3 minutes we are watching him look around and he says they have one type and it’s out he «thinks». So we say fine just a Pepsi and 3 Dr peppers easy enough right? WRONG! Instead I get something that tastes like piss water and the Dr peppers taste like root beer extract. One of them had grenadine in it which was warm and gross. We just up and left. There customer service is non existent there staff is incompetent and the place just looks shambles and dirty. I’ve worked in bars and restaurants my whole life and I was just shocked by how bad this «business» if that’s What We can call it is run just God awful.

This is a place struggling with an identity crisis over the years. First a coffee shop then they added beer and wine, now they are a bar. I have watched The Mug evolve over the years, as it is in our neighborhood. I keep coming back and want to love it. It would great to have a local place to hang out. The food is mostly soup and sandwiches. They are fine… nothing to rave about. But one does not come to a place like this for the food… it’s a place to hang out chatting with friends and family and sharing good company. The addition of the pool table made the place more bar like, but not better. This is not a pool table place and it seems odd smacked down in the middle of things. I keep thinking this place could be great, I keep rooting for them. I will still stop by for a night cap. I know they have worked hard to keep things going there and want to support them. I love the idea of a neighborhood bar, perhaps in suburbia, this is what they look look like. Maybe I’ve spent too much time in NE Mpls and my opinion leans in a more urban direction. In any case, check out The Mug, especially if you live around here. It is a great place to hang out with a few friends for some drinks and conversation. That is something worth supporting.

No customer service skills at all
Bartender was on his cell phone in the back… when I asked for a drink and i got kicked out because he said he was on a business call. and when I tryed to explain how customer service is supposed to work. He got mad and kicked me out…
Also beware they will take advantage of you if you are intoxicated and charge you extra on your tab so pay cash that is if you can get the bartender off the phone in the back room
By the way there was only 4 people in the bar
The bartender tried to take money that was in front of me and not count it in front of me, there was two extra dollars that he wouldn’t have acknowledged was there and I know I wouldn’t have got it back… that’s stealing guys just so you know… That’s what made you mad wasn’t it Mr bartender… Because I busted you?
Why do you assume you get a tip… tips are given for good service not because you think your owed them…
Fights happen on a regular basis at night due to over serving.
And cops do watch the place…
I used to be a regular at this place until the new owner took over.
UPDATE — apparently I made such an impact at this bar that they feel they need to still talk about me… making stuff up out of spite… to bad everybody who knows me knows you’re full of shit… :-). just when you thought you guys couldn’t get any lower lol. Keep talking… :-)
Let your true colors shine thru
I recommend Rascals in Apple Valley it’s a much better bar with better people and they actually know what customer service is… and the prices are unbeatable :-)

New owners so they are in transition and no longer serving espresso drinks. Got a cup of regular joe instead. Service was nice.

This is a northern Minnesota bar in twin cities suburbia. No frills, but the cheapest drinks I’ve seen in years. The owner is the bartender and he’s friendly and efficient. Not a destination spot, but great for anyone who lives in Farmington.

We used to go here many years ago — 9 ½ to be more precise. My daughter lived in Farmington and this place was very inviting. At that time they just had a wine and beer license plus great coffee. Today when we stopped in they have a full bar. They added a pool table and several video type games. A couple of guys were having a couple brewskis and playing what looked to be a golf game.
They used to have some comfortable leather furniture around the fireplace but not anymore. They have made room for the pool table and more high top and regular top tables. Plus they have expanded the bar itself.
I went in with so many old good memories that I just couldn’t sort through the changed ambience of the place. The food was OK. If you’re a local or in the area and looking for a spot to hangout — have a couple drinks and play some pool or video games, then this might be right spot for you. I just couldn’t get past the changes, which for me, were not for the better.

On Jan 19, we went to «The Mug» (formerly The Ugly Mug) for appetizers and a beverage. The garlic cheese bread was dry and tasteless. The super nachos were mediocre.
In earlier years, we really enjoyed the sandwiches at the Ugly Mug. Things have changed.

Ah, it’s been through so many different «revamps» that it’s lost some of its identity. Food is just so-​so, but it’s a comfortable spot to sit and chat for long periods of time. I miss the huge bowls of soups that used to be oh-​so-​cheap, but I don’t miss the mediocre sandwiches.
It’s still a go-​to place when you want to meet friends, so I’ll hope that it improves under the NEWEST management/​owners.

They recently changed management and now they have turned it from a wonderful cozy coffee shop into a soon to be bar. They have removed the cozy chairs by the fireplace and replaced it with a pool table. When I was there earlier this week, they had moved in a Golden Tee machine, a monstrosity of a Juke Box and dart board was on its way. The atmosphere has changed greatly and no longer is this a haven in a smaller town. Looks like I will be back to looking for smaller coffee shops in the area, or there are always the big chain coffee places. Goodbye Ugly Mug, you were an awesome place a while back

The Ugly Mug is not quite a coffee shop in the traditional sense, considering its (relatively) extensive beer selection and the bottles of ketchup and mustard prominently situated on each table. In terms of décor, it’s basically what you would imagine Blarney’s would look like if Blarney’s was well-​lit and people went to Blarney’s to study instead of drink. More inviting than it sounds.
However you want to describe it, the place features free Wi-​Fi and all the coffee you can drink for under two bucks, so there’s no reason why you can’t bring your laptop and loiter like you would with your average Starbucks. Plus, the restaurant aspect can come in handy, since you’re not limited to bland baked goods, disgusting reheated burritos, or sad little fruit cups to satisfy whatever pangs of hunger you might experience. The menu is unpretentious, with your basic selection of sandwiches, burgers, and desserts. In particular, I had a turkey-​bacon-​swiss panini sandwich which was quite good. I’m not going to engage in hyperbole because, you know, it’s a panini sandwich. But it was infinitely preferable to the hours-​old refrigerated sandwich that I might have had otherwise.
To be clear, the selection of hot beverages is as extensive as you would expect from any coffee shop worth its salt. I just didn’t have the budget to go beyond the bottomless mug, although the coffee itself is notably good.
The obvious sticking point is location. If I lived in Farmington, I would probably come here all the time (and consequently bump up the rating to five stars). However, when people say the middle of nowhere, they aren’t kidding. The Ugly Mug is in a legitimate strip-​mall strip mall, neighbored by a dog-​grooming business, a tanning salon, a place that appears to sell beanbags, a terrible looking pizza place, and an equally terrible looking Chinese restaraunt. (Oh, and a Subway, obviously.) Relative to its surroundings, the Ugly Mug does not compute.
Also, because of its location deep in the heart of suburbia, the clientele is mostly family-​based. This means that people watching is minimal, and that you’re going to get the occasional annoying kid who does typical annoying-​kid things like drop the same pair of dice onto the floor over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over again. Kid haters might want to stay away.
The 45-​minute drive from Minneapolis to Middleofnowheresville just isn’t going to happen for me on a regular basis. But if you live in the area, you need a coffee break before a trip to the zoo, or you’re the «friend with the car» who agrees to ridiculous driving favors that require you to kill a couple of hours, then the Ugly Mug is perfect.
All in all, just a really cool and relaxed ambiance. I would frequent the Ugly Mug often if there was a Minneapolis location. (Then again, this is also the kind of coffee shop that hipsters would quickly ruin if given the opportunity, so maybe not.)

This is what you call a hidden gem. Really well hidden.
The sandwiches are fantastic.
Being at the end of a strip mall is kind of weird, but whatever. It doesn’t feel tacky or awkward when you’re inside. The place has a way of making you feel relaxed and comfortable.
I’m a fan. Can’t say I’d drive to Farmington just to eat here… but if I were in the area, there’s no question about it! I’d definitely stop in.

As everyone else has said this is a diamond in the rough. It’s not the type of place you’d expect to find in a strip mall. The food and coffee are wonderful. The staff is friendly and always interested in going the extra mile.

Great coffee! I prefer small local shops! Very good espresso! Fast and friendly.

Not what you’d expect out of a strip mall location. It exceeded expectations with a great cozy environment, great tasting food and friendly service. I like their chilly and they have a good selection of hot sandwiches. They also have ice cream for the kiddies and beer for the adults :-)

I was a little surprised to find this place was located on the tail of a strip mall, and a bit apprehensive about the awesome-​level of it because of the location. However, upon entering I was like, «Hey! This place is pretty dang cozy!» Lots of warm and inviting natural aspects of the place. You kind of feel like you’re walking into a warm log cabin. I was there with a friend and our kids (age 7) and were there to see his friend’s band play. They have a stage set up in the front left-​hand corner of the place. The food was pretty good, although both the kids thought that the mac and cheese was not so mackin. I would have to agree. But the panini’s were superb. The kids loaded up with chocolate milk and ice cream, and we adults had a few beers (yes, beers at a café!!!) and kicked back to listen to the tunes. The menu is limited to sanwiches, soups, coffee, wine and beer. But it works well with the vibe they’re going for. Very chill. It was an incredibly family-​friendly environment, and I would definitely go back again. Also, the owner is super nice and came out to our table to say hello. Again, a very nice gesture IMO.

This welcoming little shop is located in the small town of Farmington, at the end of a strip mall, directly off of Pilot Knob. I thought it was kind of an odd place to have a cute little shop like this, but hey, I guess it works! The shop has a very old-​world, contemporary-​twist style to it, very bright, very bold and very inviting. Serving, coffee, food, beer and occasionally live entertainment… This is a great place to come to catch up with friends, and kick back after a days work. How many coffee shops around the Twin Cities actually have a liquor license? Not many. If you are looking for a large menu with many selections, then this may not be the place for you. Alcohol, espresso beverages, soup, salads, sandwiches and a variety of panini’s are what the Ugly Mug has to offer. So you can either take it, or leave it!